LuAnn's time in the mill was initiated by her mother who worked at Finkelstein's as well. Her mom heard the mill was looking for part time help after school and during the summer. In need of extra money and thinking it might be interesting to work with her mom, LuAnn took thee job. She initially started as a Cutter but was not comfortable with the instrument she had to use to do the job. As she got better and more comfortable with this position she became bored and was moved to the ruffling sewing machine. Here she made tie backs for curtains and it was this job she enjoyed the most. She briefly tried a position sewing curtains but did not like it much so she went back to the tie backs. LuAnn remembers vividly how difficult the work was and how hot it was in the mill during the summer. She also remembers that she got one 10 minute break in the morning and one in the afternoon plus a 1/2 hour for lunch. Her experience at the mill helped her to make up her mind to pursue higher education.
After high school LuAnn lived for a while in Florida returning after a year. Upon her return she took a position at the SSAD facility in Slatersville making glass tubes for televisions. While she was employed here she was convinced into joining the Army National Guard. She served in the same facility as her father before her. She made Sargent within a year and applied for a full time position with the Air national Guard in Warwick. Here she became a Staff Sargent to the Commander of the base. She also met her first husband here. After serving in Warwick for seven years she returned to Florida, transferring tot he Air Force reserve in Homestead, FL. She served an additional two years in Florida deciding to quit after becoming pregnant with her second son.
Five years later, LuAnn returned to service joining the Coast Guard Reserve and serving in Fort Pierce, FL for four years as a First Class Yeoman to the Reserve Commander. After four years in Fort Pierce she was transferred to Miami to be the Yeoman to the Reserve Commander there. LuAnn spent an additional 9 years in the Reserve eventually being promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 2nd Class. She retired in 2000 with full honors having been very proud to have served.
LuAnn raised two sons who now have families of their own. She is Grandmother to one grandson and 3 step-grandsons. She and her husband currently reside in Port St. Lucie. LuAnn remembers Woonsocket as her Home town where she gained her initiative and drive to succeed.